Mobile apparatus for earth moving and other operations such as lifting and displacing of loads

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a mobile apparatus for earth moving and other operations, such as lifting and displacing loads. A frame is displaceable on wheels. An articulated operating arm is supported by the frame for carrying an implement, for instance a container, a digger bucket or wrecking hammer. One or more motors drive the wheels and move the operating arm. The operating arm consists of at least three articulations connected to each other for mutual pivoting on a lying axis. A control member such as a hydraulic cylinder is arranged between each pair of articulations. The third articulation has a greater length than the second one, such that when the articulations are folded against each other, the implement can be freely used at the free end of the first articulation. Thus, the last articulation can be transformed from an articulated arm into a single lifting arm.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a mobile apparatus for earth moving and otheroperations, such as lifting and displacing loads, which apparatuscomprises a frame displaceable on wheels, an articulated operating armsupported by the frame for carrying an implement, for instance acontainer, a digger bucket or wrecking hammer, one or more motors fordriving the wheels and moving the operating arm, which consists of atleast three articulations which are connected to each other for mutualpivoting on a lying axis, wherein a control member such as a hydrauliccylinder or a gear rack is arranged between each pair of articulations.

2. Description of the Related Art

Two types of machine are known in practice, one of which is providedwith a digging arm which usually consists of a number of articulationsand on the outer end of which is arranged a digger bucket. Earth movingcan hereby be carried out, wherein the articulations of the digging armenable the digger bucket to be carried from a digging position into alifting position respectively an offloading position.

In another embodiment, mobile apparatuses are provided with a singlelifting arm, on the outer end of which can for instance be arrangedinserting forks for pallets and the like. Loads can hereby be lifted,stacked and transported between a pick-up and set-down location.

The frame is usually embodied for this purpose with four controllableand driven wheels thereby giving the apparatus a great manoeuvrability.

An apparatus is for instance known from EP 0299104.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is directed to an apparatus with a hydraulic loadingshovel and crane which can be used for instance as an excavator. Theoperating arm has five articulations which are actuated by an actuator.The articulations can be folded in accordion-like manner in order toshorten the operating arm, which does not however influence the functionof the operating arm, i.e. if the operating arm had a digging functionin the articulated position, the operating arm likewise has a diggingfunction in the folded position.

The invention has for its object to provide an apparatus variousoperations can be carried out without the digging arm having to bereplaced by a lifting arm, and vice versa.

The apparatus according to the invention is distinguished in that thelast, third articulation of the operating arm has a greater length thanthe second one, such that when the articulations are folded against eachother the attached implement can be freely used at the free end of thefirst articulation.

Because the last articulation is longer than the immediately precedingarticulation, it can be transformed from an articulated arm into asingle lifting arm when the arm is folded together. The outer end of thelast articulation is herein free to be provided with for instance adigger bucket as well as a lifting device. Another type of implement,such as a wrecking manner, a trench digger, an asphalt cutter and so on,can of course also be provided.

According to a further feature of the invention it is possible to applyin the arm not only pivoting with a horizontal axis but also pivotingwith a vertical axis, whereby it becomes possible not only to move thedigging arm up and down in the vertical plane, but also to pivot itrelative to the frame in the horizontal plane. This can be the wholearm, but also a part thereof, particularly if the first articulation ofthe arm is embodied as a portal between which the two otherarticulations are folded.

A portal-like first articulation can be constructed in one part or fromdifferent parts and the dimensions must be such that the thirdarticulation can be fed through.

Within the scope of the invention it is possible to arrange the diggingarm not in the centre of the frame, but for instance laterallyadjacently of the cab if present. In this case the driver has a clearview of the attached implement.

The invention finally proposes in the preferred embodiment to arrangethe first articulated part of the arm in offset manner, in top view,relative to the second articulated part, thereby making the foldingeasier. This folding is further facilitated by arranging the thirdarticulation in offset manner, in top view, relative to the second one.In the preferred embodiment of the invention all of the at least threearticulations are arranged in offset manner, in top view, relative toeach other.

This offset embodiment moreover provides the possibility of improvingthe driver's view of the implement.

In another embodiment the articulations could also be arranged such thatthey fit over and into each other.

According to a further developed embodiment, at least two controlmembers are arranged between one or each pair of articulations for animproved control of the articulations.

The third articulation must be understood to mean the outer end of theoperating arm which is generally assembled from a plurality of parts.According to a first option, the third articulation is formed by interalia a leg having a length which is greater than the length of thesecond articulation. According to another variant, the thirdarticulation is formed by a leg with a length which is smaller than orequal to the length of the second articulation, on the outer end ofwhich a parallelogram linkage is arranged, which linkage has dimensionssuch that the total length of the leg plus the parallelogram linkage iscertainly greater than the length of the second articulation. In thisway an attached implement is freely usable at the free end of the firstarticulation in the folded position of the articulations.

According to yet another variant, the third articulation is formed by aleg having a length which is smaller than or equal to the length of thesecond articulation, on the outer end of which an implement is arranged,which implement is constructed such that the total length of the legplus the implement is greater than the length of the secondarticulation.

For rapid coupling and uncoupling of an implement on the outer end ofthe leg of the third articulation, use is preferably made of arapid-action coupling. In this manner an implement can be coupled anduncoupled very rapidly in manual, hydraulic, mechanical,electro-mechanical or other suitable manner.

According to a still further developed embodiment of the invention, thearticulations are provided with connecting means for mutual connectionthereof in the folded position, or for connection to the frame. Allstatic and/or dynamic forces in the operating position of the apparatuscan in this way be absorbed in efficient manner. These connecting meanscan be mechanical, hydraulic, electromagnetic or a combination thereof.

According to a further feature of the invention, the articulations areprovided with control members for holding the implement at substantiallythe same angle relative to the frame when one or more articulations arerotated. In this manner the rotation of the articulations does notinfluence the position of the implement, which may be desirable when theimplement is for instance an inserting fork which must be heldhorizontally. These control members can be hydraulic, mechanical,electromagnetic or a combination thereof.

Means can further be provided for automatically folding thearticulations against and away from each other for the transformationfrom lifting arm to digging arm and vice versa.

The operating arm can finally be provided with one or more dampingsystems. The transport of for instance loads, implements or materialssuch as sand and soil can in this way be carried out more rapidly andmore easily. These damping systems can act hydraulically, mechanically,electromagnetically, pneumatically, with a special gas, or with acombination thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is further elucidated in the figure description followinghereinbelow of a number of embodiments. In the drawing:

FIG. 1 shows a standing side view of a random frame with an operatingarm in the digging position, respectively transporting position;

FIG. 2 shows a top view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 in another operatingposition;

FIG. 3 shows a side view of a first embodiment of the digging arm in thedigging position;

FIG. 4 shows a top view of the arm of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 shows a standing view corresponding with FIG. 3 of the operatingarm in the folded-up position, whereby a single arm is obtained;

FIG. 6 shows a front view of the arm of FIG. 5;

FIGS. 7A,B,C show a schematic illustration of the operating arm of FIG.2 in different positions;

FIG. 7D shows a variant of the operating arm in the digging position;

FIG. 8 shows a top view of the operating arm as according to theschematic representation of FIG. 7D;

FIGS. 9A,B show in each case a side view of two embodiments of aschematically shown cab with operating arm placed relative thereto;

FIG. 10 shows a side view of a second embodiment of the digging arm inthe digging position;

FIG. 11 shows a top view of the digging arm of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a top view of a third embodiment of the digging arm accordingto the invention;

FIG. 13 is a side view of a variant of the digging arm of FIG. 10 with adifferent arrangement of the control members;

FIG. 14 is a side view of a first variant of the digging arm of FIG. 13with extra control members;

FIG. 15 is a side view of a second variant of the digging arm of FIG. 13with extra control members;

FIG. 16 shows a side view of a third variant of the digging arm of FIG.13 with extra control members, in a first position;

FIG. 17 shows a side view of the third variant of the digging arm ofFIG. 16 in a second position;

FIG. 18 is a side view of the third variant of the digging arm of FIG.16 in a third position, wherein an inserting fork is attached; and

FIG. 19 shows a side view of the third variant of the digging arm ofFIG. 17 in a fourth position

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The same components are designated in the figures with the samereference numerals.

The apparatus shown according to FIG. 1 comprises a displaceable frame 1supported in the figures by means of steerable wheels 2.

Within the scope of the invention these wheels can also be replaced bycaterpillar tracks. A rotatable sub-frame 3 with a cab 4 placed thereonis arranged on the frame.

The first articulation of an operating arm 6 is arranged on theleft-hand side of sub-frame 3 at rotation point 5, which operating arm 6is further elucidated hereinbelow. In FIG. 1 the operating arm 6 isshown in full lines in the digging position and with broken lines inposition 6′ as load displacing position.

FIG. 2 furthermore shows that a part of operating arm 6 is pivotable inthe horizontal plane, so that an optimum freedom of movement of diggerbucket 7 on the end of operating arm 6 is possible.

FIG. 3 shows in detail the operating arm as it can be used in theapparatus of FIG. 1, 2. Operating arm 6 consists of a first articulation8, a second articulation 9 and a final articulation 10. The sub-frame isschematically designated with the numeral 3, which sub-frame 3 can haveany random adapted form.

The first articulation 8 is supported by a hydraulic cylinder 11 betweensub-frame 3 and a pivot point 12 on the upper side of the firstarticulation 8.

A hydraulic cylinder 13 is arranged between the same axis of hinge 12 atthe end of the first articulation 8 and a rotation point 14 at the endof the second articulation. This rotation point 14 also serves forpivotally suspending the third articulation 10 relative to the secondarticulation 9, wherein a hydraulic cylinder 15 is arranged betweenpivot point 16 of the second articulation and a pivot point 17 of thethird articulation.

On the end of the third articulation is finally mounted a parallelogramlinkage 18, to which is fixed a digger bucket or other random implement7. This can be controlled by a hydraulic cylinder 19 acting betweenpivot point 22 and pivot point 23 of the telescopic hinge.

It is noted that it can be seen in FIG. 4 that the first articulationhas a portal-like form, wherein the hinge with horizontal axis 20between the first articulation 8 and the second articulation 9 is placedroughly in the centre of the portal.

A second hinge with vertical axis 21 is also placed in this centre inorder to move the two articulations 9, 10 in lateral direction relativeto portal 8. This lateral movement is brought about by asymmetricaldriving of the hydraulic cylinder 13 situated on either side of thesecond articulation 9, so that a lateral pivoting stroke becomespossible.

According to the invention the length of the third articulation isgreater than that of the second articulation 9, so that during foldinginto a situation as shown for instance in FIG. 5, the articulation 10 isfirst brought to lie against the articulation 9 and then rotated furtheruntil 9 together with 10 come to lie between the portal of articulation8. It is generally the case that a combination of rotations results infolding-up to a single arm. The dimensioning is such that implement 7,here in the form of a digger bucket, comes to lie at the outer end ofthe first articulation 8 and can there be active.

The length of the articulations can be understood to be such that thedistance between rotation point 14 and that of the parallelogram linkage18 is in any case greater than between pivot points 14 and 20.

It is noted that the length of an articulation is of course constant ifit is constructed from fixed lengths of material, as shown in FIGS. 4-6.

It is however also possible within the scope of the invention to givethe articulations a telescopic form, whereby the length is adjustable.Within the scope of the invention it is thus possible for instance toshorten the second articulation 9 during folding into the positionaccording to FIG. 5, or to lengthen the articulation 10 in order toreach this situation of FIG. 5. The distances between the pivot pointsare hereby reduced respectively increased.

FIG. 7 shows two embodiments in schematic manner, wherein each line isan articulation with the same reference numerals as in the precedingfigures.

FIGS. 7 a, b and c show respectively the digging position, theintermediate position and the folded-up, lifting or displacing positionaccording to FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 d shows the embodiment as also seen in top view according to FIG.8, wherein the first articulation 8 is not portal-like but takes asingle-sided form, wherein a bent construction is however applied suchthat the articulation 9 can come to lie beside the articulation 8 ifthis is rotated about pivot point 20.

This bent construction can be two-sided as shown in FIG. 7 d orone-sided as shown in FIG. 8. It is also possible to make the pivot pinat pivot point 20 so wide that such a folding construction is alsopossible, wherein it is then possible to dispense with the obliqueposition of articulation 8 relative to pivot axis 5.

FIG. 8 shows with a broken line an additional strengthening if theconstruction makes this necessary, whereby the hinge is widened.

FIG. 9 shows a schematic representation of control cab 4 which is deemedto be fixed to a sub-frame 3, on one side of which sub-frame the firstarticulation 8 can be arranged at pivot point 5, which is placed to therear in FIG. 9 b, see 5′. This prevents the articulation 8 blocking theview of the driver too much.

FIGS. 10 and 11 show a second embodiment of the digging arm which issimilar to that of FIG. 3, with the difference that the firstarticulation is provided with a hydraulic pin 50 which can be arrangedin opening 52 to connect the first articulation and sub-frame 3 to thethird articulation. The second articulation is likewise further providedwith a hydraulic pin 51 which fits into an opening 53 in order toconnect the third articulation to the second one.

FIG. 12 shows a top view of a symmetrical variant of the digging arm,wherein the first articulation takes a portal-like form.

FIGS. 13-16 show a number of different embodiments of the digging arm ofthe apparatus according to the invention, wherein the differences liesubstantially in the control members that are used. This indicates thatmany other variants are possible which also fall within the scope of theinvention.

FIGS. 17-19 show the variant of FIG. 16 in different positions, with andwithout attached implement. In FIGS. 18 and 19 can be observed that theattached inserting fork can be held in the same position as thearticulations are rotated.

Diverse other constructions are possible, wherein the first articulation8 can be placed centrally on sub-frame 3 for the purpose of a balanceddistribution of weight. Another possibility consists of arranging thefirst articulation directly onto the displaceable frame 1. A pluralityof parallelogram linkages for instance can further also be used to makethe articulations rotatable relative to each other.

Diverse other embodiments are possible within the scope of theinvention.

1. A mobile apparatus for earth moving and other operations, such aslifting and displacing loads, the apparatus comprising: a framedisplaceable on wheels or caterpillar tracks, an articulated operatingarm supported by the frame for carrying an implement, the operating armconsists of at least three articulations connected to each other atpivot points for mutual pivoting on a lying axis, one or more motors fordriving the wheels or caterpillar tracks and moving the operating arm,and a plurality of control members for controlling movement of thearticulations, wherein the at least three articulations comprise first,second and third adjacent articulations, said second articulation havinga first end connected to the first articulation at a first pivot pointand having a second end connected to the third articulation at a secondpivot point, said first, second and third articulations being foldableagainst each other resulting in folding-up to a single arm, wherein thesecond end of the second articulation is being folded against the firstarticulation, and, wherein the last, third articulation of the operatingarm has a greater length than the second articulation, such that whenthe articulations are folded against each other the implement is freelyusable at an outer end of the first articulation.
 2. The apparatus asclaimed in claim 1, wherein the first articulation is arranged in anoffset manner, in top view, relative to the second articulation.
 3. Theapparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first articulation isportal-like and has an interior width, and the interior width of thefirst articulation allows passage of the implement.
 4. The apparatus asclaimed in claim 1, wherein near at least one of the pivot pointsbetween the articulations or between the first articulation and theframe, a pivot point with a vertical axis is arranged.
 5. The apparatusas claimed in claim 1, wherein the third articulation is arranged in anoffset manner, in top view, relative to the second articulation.
 6. Theapparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein all of the at least threearticulations are arranged in an offset manner, in top view, relative toeach other.
 7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least twocontrol members are arranged between one pair or each pair ofarticulations.
 8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein thearticulations are provided with connecting means for mutual connectionof the articulations in the folded position, or for connection to theframe.
 9. A mobile apparatus for earth moving and other operations, suchas lifting and displacing loads, the apparatus comprising: a framedisplaceable on wheels or caterpillar tracks, an articulated operatingarm supported by the frame for carrying an implement, the operating armconsists of at least three articulations connected to each other atpivot points for mutual pivoting on a lying axis, one or more motors fordriving the wheels or caterpillar tracks and moving the operating arm,and a plurality of control members for controlling movement of thearticulations, wherein the at least three articulations comprise first,second and third adjacent articulations, said second articulation havinga first end connected to the first articulation at a first pivot pointand having a second end connected to the third articulation at a secondpivot point, said first, second and third articulations being foldableagainst each other resulting in folding-up to a single arm, wherein thesecond end of the second articulation is folded against the firstarticulation, and, wherein the last, third articulation of the operatingarm is formed by a leg having a length which is smaller than or equal tothe length of the second articulation, wherein a parallelogram linkageis arranged on the outer end of the leg, which linkage has dimensionssuch that the total length of the leg plus the parallelogram linkage isgreater than the length of the second articulation, such that when thearticulations are folded against each other the implement is freelyusable at an outer end of the first articulation.
 10. The apparatus asclaimed in claim 8, wherein the connecting means for mutual connectionof the articulations are configured as a connection in a directionperpendicular to the articulations.